Iconic building to be restored

New Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie visited Castlewellan today to announce work to restore an iconic local building to its former glory.

The listed building, known locally as ‘The Lodge’, will be refurbished at a cost of more than £773,000 and one of its anchor tenants will be traditional Irish music organisation, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Eíreann. A business centre will also be created, incorporating office accommodation for local and community businesses, training rooms and space for community activities such as meetings and classes.

The Castlewellan Regeneration Company Limited has developed the scheme with assistance from the International Fund for Ireland, the Department for Social Development, the Rural Development Council (RDC) and Down District Council.

During her visit, Ms Ritchie said: “I congratulate Castlewellan Regeneration Company Limited and its partners on the formation and development of ‘The Lodge’ project. This is another fine example of the Regeneration Company delivering for all the community. Facilities such as these are critical to the regeneration of the local economy and will prove a great addition to the promotion of cultural activities in the Castlewellan area for generations to come. Restoring this listed building to its former glory will see much needed improvements to one of the main gateways into the town.

“The initiative has been made possible thanks to the success of Hillyard House, whose profits have been reinvested in The Lodge. This momentum and continued confidence is central to my department’s regeneration policy. I believe that this scheme will continue to build on the ongoing transformation of Castlewellan.”

Announcing International Fund for Ireland support of £391,256 for the project, Jackie Hewitt, Board member of the International Fund for Ireland, said: "The International Fund for Ireland has enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship with Castlewellan Regeneration Company and was a key funder, with the department, of the Hillyard House project in 1992.

"We are again delighted to support the group in this new project which is situated in a very prominent position in the town and which will have an immediate and positive impact on social and economic life in Castlewellan and play an important role in the long term prosperity of the area".

(JM/KMcA)